The Fertilization President
Donald Trump has been influenced by Elon Musk’s rather unusual fixation on insemination, as the former president now refers to himself as “the fertilization president.” This self-given title raises eyebrows, especially considering Trump’s previous reputation as a legally defined sexual predator.
Trump announced his new moniker at a recent White House gathering celebrating Women’s History Month. Ironically, this event might warrant a report to the DEI authorities, since Trump has imposed restrictions on acknowledging women’s history in the past. Reports indicated that federal agencies had been hesitant to celebrate significant observances like Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Women’s History Month to avoid conflicting with Trump’s sweeping executive order on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
This particular occasion seemed allowable since the audience consisted of women who fit Trump’s preference: predominantly white and overly respectful. The White House shared various videos of attendees watching Trump, who once claimed he would champion women’s rights “whether they like it or not.” Throughout his speech, he seemed more focused on his peculiar narratives than on honoring women’s contributions.
In his address, he promised “tremendous goodies in the bag for women,” veering into strange territory as he mentioned “fertilization” amid his musings about essential issues like the prices of eggs and gas. When the audience chuckled at his comments, he proudly repeated “fertilization,” claiming, “I don’t care. I’ll be known as the fertilization president!” This incoherence exemplifies Trump’s tendency to ramble, which the media often sanitizes to present a more palatable narrative, a phenomenon known as “sanewashing.”
While the goody bags distributed at the event remain a mystery, Trump’s fixation on fertilization came after he proclaimed an executive order aimed at reducing costs for fertility treatments like IVF. Technically accurate, this order directed the domestic policy council to “aggressively” seek to lower costs, but many critics see it as mere rhetoric. The Guardian highlighted a significant lack of actionable measures in Trump’s approach, especially compared to his other executive mandates.
His executive order was seen as an attempt to cater to female voters by making IVF more affordable, despite the fact that he recently boasted about being the “father of IVF,” admitting he just learned what the procedure entails. At a debate with Kamala Harris, he similarly claimed he had been a leader in IVF, intertwining it with his unfocused views on fertilization.
Will Trump transition from mere self-styling to crafting policies that genuinely enhance access to IVF? There’s a dual challenge: navigating the sensitive terrain of IVF amidst anti-abortion activists who view frozen embryos as children and finding motivation from pro-natalist figures like Musk advocating for increased birth rates in the U.S.
Should Trump succeed in making IVF more available, it’s doubtful that such access would be equitable. Observing Hungary’s pro-natalist policies—where benefits favor a specific demographic of married, heterosexual, middle-class families—provides a path to understanding the potential outcomes of such initiatives. While many couples struggle to afford IVF, Trump’s statement about being the “fertilization president” gives a disquieting impression of his approach towards women’s reproductive rights.
In all of this, Trump seems adamant about “protecting” women, but his assurance feels more chilling than comforting, especially as he intends to ensure that more babies come into the world, regardless of women’s personal desires.
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